On August 6, 2013, Forney's Director of Administrative Services, Leigh Corson, presented the Forney City Council with the proposed Fiscal Year 2014 Budget.
The City of Forney estimates an increase in property tax revenue but not because of an increase in the tax rate. The additional revenue will be generated from an increase in assessed valuations while the tax rate remains the same at $0.749020 per $100 valuation.
The city expects to add five new full-time employees and another part-time employee. Three of those additions will be to the Forney Police Department to hire new police officers. The city also proposed the addition of a full-time Parks Department Technical Specialist, a full-time Water Department Water Quality Technician, and one part-time dispatcher. The Public Works Department also eliminated one full-time position.
With the proposed new positions, the total number of people employed full-time by the City of Forney will rise to 121, along with two part-time employees.
The City of Forney is also proposing to absorb an additional 10% increase in water purchases and a 14% increase in sewage treatment being imposed by the North Texas Water Municipal District (NTWMD). While several cities in the NTWMD have passed along the increase, the City of Forney states in their proposed budget, “At this time, it appears that revenues are sufficient to cover operating expenses and the rate increase can be absorbed.”
Last year, the NTWMD increased the water rates by 15%, the sewage rates by 20%, and the City of Forney was able to absorb one-third of the water rate increase.
Another item in the proposed budget is the implementation of an employee compensation plan. In February of this year, the Forney City Council approved a contract with Condrey and Associates to conduct a compensation study that would evaluate the compensation of current city employees and compare and implement the plan based on market salaries. The proposed implementation will have a net cost of $388,198 and will bring the City of Forney's employee salaries up to approximately 97% of their market counterparts.
A public hearing for the proposed Fiscal Year 2014 budget will be on September 3, 2013.